2018 Grand National Weights Revealed
The weights for the 2018 Randox Health Grand National have been officially revealed by the BHA Handicapper Phil Smith and it’s Brian Ellison’s Definitly Red who will lead the pack on top weight of 11-10.
Though he ran but pulled up in the 2017 event, Definitely Red has been on fantastic form this season notching up back-to-back winners at Aintree in December and Cheltenham in January and is a general 20/1 ante-post with most bookmakers.
But the runner garnering all of the attention is Blaklion from Nigel Twiston-Davies, the two time Grand National winning trainer. Blaklion will carry 11-06 and although that statistically makes his chances of winning more difficult, it hasn’t stopped most of the bookmakers inserting him as the ante-post favourite at odds as low as 8/1.
He ran in 2017, finishing in fourth spot, eight lengths adrift of One For Arthur, having led at the 26th fence before being bumped by the eventual winner.
Speaking to Racing UK, Twiston-Davies advised “He’ll be ridden differently, no blame on Noel (Fehily) at all, but he kicked on a mile from home. If we don’t kick on a mile from home then that eight lengths can be found.
“He’s a bit like Red Rum. He’s small and very neat over his fences. Twice he’s been round there, he doesn’t seem to make a mistake, and is agile and nips around horses who have fallen ahead of him. He’s a clever little horse.
“He doesn’t compare to any of them. At this stage he is more natural than the others. Earth Summit was a real slogger, and Bindaree was a very talented horse but didn’t try that hard. He was clever on his way around.”
With ten potential runners entered, Irish trainer Willie Mullins hasn’t ruled any of his contenders in or out but following the weights at least three won’t make the cut – Bravissimo, Abre De Vie and Pairofbrowneyes – leaving seven still in the mix.
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Total Recall has the shortest ante-post odds with Betfair installing him as second favourite on 14/1, just behind Blaklion. But even assistant trainer Patrick Mullins has conceded that the task will be challenging.
“With over 11st is going to be very hard,” he said.
“Only two horses in the last four years have finished in the first four but he has an improving profile that makes him very interesting.
“He is fantastic jumper, handles big handicaps and should stay. It is just going to be hard to go win two handicaps in one season”.
Also with 10 entries in the 2018 Grand National, fellow Irish trainer Gordon Elliott has already mused that he will have no more than five runners on the day.
Confirming that Outlander will head to the Punchestown Gold Cup, and with General Principal, Out Sam and Poormans Hill ruled out because they won’t make the cut, his team will consist of no more than Cause Of Causes, who was second last year, Ucello Conti, Tiger Roll, Noble Endeavor and possibly the veteran Bless The Wings.
Cause Of Causes, who was second in 2017, is undoubtedly his best chance at bagging another win and can be backed ante-post at odds around 20/1.
For the full round up of all the weights, please see our table below:
| Horse | Age | Wgt | Rating | Owner | Trainer | |
| 1) | DEFINITLY RED (IRE) | 9 | 11-10 | 165 | Phil & Julie Martin | Brian Ellison |
| 2) | BRISTOL DE MAI (FR) | 7 | 11-09 | 164 | Simon Munir & Isaac Souede | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 3) | EDWULF | 9 | 11-09 | 164 | J P McManus | Joseph O’Brien IRE |
| 4) | OUTLANDER (IRE) | 10 | 11-08 | 163 | Gigginstown House Stud | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| 5) | MINELLA ROCCO (IRE) | 8 | 11-07 | 162 | J P McManus | Jonjo O’Neill |
| 6) | BLAKLION | 9 | 11-06 | 161 | Simon Such & Gino Paletta | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 7) | SUB LIEUTENANT (IRE) | 9 | 11-05 | 160 | Gigginstown House Stud | Henry de Bromhead IRE |
| 8) | ANIBALE FLY (FR) | 8 | 11-04 | 159 | J P McManus | Tony Martin IRE |
| 9) | THE LAST SAMURI (IRE) | 10 | 11-04 | 159 | Paul & Clare Rooney | Kim Bailey |
| 10) | MALA BEACH (IRE) | 10 | 11-03 | 158 | Chris Jones | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| 11) | VALSEUR LIDO (FR) | 9 | 11-03 | 158 | Gigginstown House Stud | Henry de Bromhead IRE |
| 12) | AMERICAN (FR) | 8 | 11-02 | 157 | The Jago Family Partnership | Harry Fry |
| 13) | TOTAL RECALL (IRE) | 9 | 11-01 | 156 | Slaneyville Syndicate | Willie Mullins IRE |
| 14) | ALPHA DES OBEAUX (FR) | 8 | 11-00 | 155 | Gigginstown House Stud | Mouse Morris IRE |
| 15) | GOLD PRESENT (IRE) | 8 | 11-00 | 155 | John & Barbara Cotton | Nicky Henderson |
| 16) | NOBLE ENDEAVOR (IRE) | 9 | 10-13 | 154 | Chris Jones | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| 17) | PERFECT CANDIDATE (IRE) | 11 | 10-13 | 154 | ISL Recruitment | Fergal O’Brien |
| 18) | SIZING CODELCO (IRE) | 9 | 10-13 | 154 | Ann & Alan Potts Limited | Colin Tizzard |
| 19) | CAUSE OF CAUSES (USA) | 10 | 10-12 | 153 | J P McManus | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| 20) | SHANTOU FLYER (IRE) | 8 | 10-12 | 153 | Carl Hinchy | Richard Hobson |
| 21) | CARLINGFORD LOUGH (IRE) | 12 | 10-11 | 152 | J P McManus | John Kiely IRE |
| 22) | O O SEVEN (IRE) | 8 | 10-11 | 152 | Christopher Hanbury | Nicky Henderson |
| 23) | TENOR NIVERNAIS (FR) | 11 | 10-11 | 152 | Boultbee Brooks Ltd | Venetia Williams |
| 24) | GO CONQUER (IRE) | 9 | 10-10 | 151 | Paul & Clare Rooney | Jonjo O’Neill |
| 25) | TRAFFIC FLUIDE (FR) | 8 | 10-10 | 151 | Galloping On The South Downs Partnership | Gary Moore |
| 26) | VICENTE (FR) | 9 | 10-10 | 151 | Trevor Hemmings | Paul Nicholls |
| 27) | ACAPELLA BOURGEOIS (FR) | 8 | 10-09 | 150 | Slaneyville Syndicate | Willie Mullins IRE |
| 28) | RATHVINDEN (IRE) | 10 | 10-09 | 150 | Ronnie Bartlett | Willie Mullins IRE |
| 29) | REGAL ENCORE (IRE) | 10 | 10-09 | 150 | J P McManus | Anthony Honeyball |
| 30) | TIGER ROLL (IRE) | 8 | 10-09 | 150 | Gigginstown House Stud | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| 31) | VIEUX LION ROUGE (FR) | 9 | 10-09 | 150 | Prof Caroline Tisdall & John Gent | David Pipe |
| 32) | A GENIE IN ABOTTLE (IRE) | 7 | 10-08 | 149 | Gigginstown House Stud | Noel Meade IRE |
| 33) | AS DE MEE (FR) | 8 | 10-08 | 149 | The Stewart Family & Judi Dench | Paul Nicholls |
| 34) | CHASE THE SPUD | 10 | 10-08 | 149 | Christine Banks | Fergal O’Brien |
| 35) | ROCK THE KASBAH (IRE) | 8 | 10-08 | 149 | Diana Whateley | Philip Hobbs |
| 36) | SEEYOUATMIDNIGHT | 10 | 10-08 | 149 | Quona Thomson | Sandy Thomson |
| 37) | WARRIORS TALE | 9 | 10-08 | 149 | Michelle & Dan Macdonald | Paul Nicholls |
| 38) | BELLSHILL (IRE) | 8 | 10-07 | 148 | Andrea & Graham Wylie | Willie Mullins IRE |
| 39) | FLYING ANGEL (IRE) | 7 | 10-07 | 148 | Rob Rexton | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 40) | GAS LINE BOY (IRE) | 12 | 10-07 | 148 | The Three Graces | Ian Williams |
| 41) | PLEASANT COMPANY (IRE) | 10 | 10-07 | 148 | Malcolm C Denmark | Willie Mullins IRE |
| 42) | THE DUTCHMAN (IRE) | 8 | 10-07 | 148 | SprayClad UK | Colin Tizzard |
| 43) | BEEVES (IRE) | 11 | 10-06 | 147 | Paul & Clare Rooney | Jennie Candlish |
| 44) | SAINT ARE (FR) | 12 | 10-06 | 147 | David Fox | Tom George |
| 45) | UCELLO CONTI (FR) | 10 | 10-06 | 147 | Simon Munir & Isaac Souede | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| 46) | VYTA DU ROC (FR) | 9 | 10-06 | 147 | Simon Munir & Isaac Souede | Nicky Henderson |
| 47) | CAROLE’S DESTRIER | 10 | 10-05 | 146 | Carole Skipworth | Neil Mulholland |
| 48) | LONG HOUSE HALL (IRE) | 10 | 10-05 | 146 | Carl Hinchy | Dan Skelton |
| 49) | POLIDAM (FR) | 9 | 10-05 | 146 | Simon Munir & Isaac Souede | Willie Mullins IRE |
| 50) | RAZ DE MAREE (FR) | 13 | 10-05 | 146 | James Swan | Gavin Cromwell IRE |
| 51) | ABOLITIONIST (IRE) | 10 | 10-04 | 145 | Mark Albon, John Provan & Chris Stedman | Dr Richard Newland |
| 52) | BAIE DES ILES (FR) | 7 | 10-04 | 145 | Zorka Wentworth | Ross O’Sullivan IRE |
| 53) | BUYWISE (IRE) | 11 | 10-04 | 145 | T Hywel Jones | Evan Williams |
| 54) | CHILDRENS LIST (IRE) | 8 | 10-04 | 145 | Susannah Ricci | Willie Mullins IRE |
| 55) | I JUST KNOW (IRE) | 8 | 10-04 | 145 | M B Scholey & the late R H Scholey | Sue Smith |
| 56) | MAGGIO (FR) | 13 | 10-04 | 145 | Douglas Pryde/James Beaumont | Patrick Griffin IRE |
| 57) | PENDRA (IRE) | 10 | 10-04 | 145 | J P McManus | Charlie Longsdon |
| 58) | VIRGILIO (FR) | 9 | 10-04 | 145 | C J Edwards, D Futter, A H Rushworth | Dan Skelton |
| 59) | CAPTAIN REDBEARD (IRE) | 9 | 10-03 | 144 | Stuart Coltherd | Stuart Coltherd |
| 60) | HOUBLON DES OBEAUX (FR) | 11 | 10-03 | 144 | Mrs Julian Blackwell | Venetia Williams |
| 61) | LORD WINDERMERE (IRE) | 12 | 10-03 | 144 | Dr Ronan Lambe | Jim Culloty IRE |
| 62) | SILSOL (GER) | 9 | 10-03 | 144 | Michelle & Dan Macdonald | Paul Nicholls |
| 63) | THIRD INTENTION (IRE) | 11 | 10-03 | 144 | Robert & Sarah Tizzard | Colin Tizzard |
| 64) | THREE FACES WEST (IRE) | 10 | 10-03 | 144 | Paul & Clare Rooney | Philip Hobbs |
| 65) | WILD WEST WIND (IRE) | 9 | 10-03 | 144 | Simon Clarke | Tom George |
| 66) | BLESS THE WINGS (IRE) | 13 | 10-02 | 143 | Adrian Butler & S P O’Connor | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| 67) | DOUBLE ROSS (IRE) | 12 | 10-02 | 143 | Options O Syndicate | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 68) | FINAL NUDGE (IRE) | 9 | 10-02 | 143 | Corbett Stud | David Dennis |
| 69) | MILANSBAR (IRE) | 11 | 10-02 | 143 | Robert Bothway | Neil King |
| 70) | MORNING ASSEMBLY (IRE) | 11 | 10-02 | 143 | Clipper Logistics Group Ltd | Pat Fahy IRE |
| 71) | DELUSIONOFGRANDEUR (IRE) | 8 | 10-01 | 142 | McGoldrick Racing 3 | Sue Smith |
| 72) | ROAD TO RICHES (IRE) | 11 | 10-01 | 142 | Gigginstown House Stud | Noel Meade IRE |
| 73) | THUNDER AND ROSES (IRE) | 10 | 10-01 | 142 | Gigginstown House Stud | Mouse Morris IRE |
| 74) | SAMETEGAL (FR) | 9 | 10-00 | 141 | John & Barbara Cotton | Paul Nicholls |
| 75) | VINTAGE CLOUDS (IRE) | 8 | 10-00 | 141 | Trevor Hemmings | Sue Smith |
| 76) | WALK IN THE MILL (FR) | 8 | 10-00 | 141 | Baroness Harding | Robert Walford |
| 77) | GENERAL PRINCIPLE (IRE) | 9 | 9-12 | 139 | Gigginstown House Stud | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| 78) | VIC DE TOUZAINE (FR) | 9 | 9-12 | 139 | Andrew Brooks & G Moore | Venetia Williams |
| 79) | VIEUX MORVAN (FR) | 9 | 9-12 | 139 | M L Bloodstock | Joseph O’Brien IRE |
| 80) | WOUNDED WARRIOR (IRE) | 9 | 9-12 | 139 | Gigginstown House Stud | Noel Meade IRE |
| 81) | ARBRE DE VIE (FR) | 8 | 9-11 | 138 | Susannah Ricci | Willie Mullins IRE |
| 82) | BALLYALTON (IRE) | 11 | 9-11 | 138 | John Westwood | Ian Williams |
| 83) | BONNY KATE (IRE) | 8 | 9-11 | 138 | Patricia Hunt | Noel Meade IRE |
| 84) | COGRY | 9 | 9-11 | 138 | Graham & Alison Jelley | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 85) | MISSED APPROACH (IRE) | 8 | 9-11 | 138 | Alan & Andrew Turner | Warren Greatrex |
| 86) | MYSTEREE (IRE) | 10 | 9-11 | 138 | Mrs Lynne Maclennan | Michael Scudamore |
| 87) | SIR MANGAN (IRE) | 10 | 9-11 | 138 | Frank McAleavy | Dan Skelton |
| 88) | SPLASH OF GINGE | 10 | 9-11 | 138 | John Neild | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 89) | BRAQUEUR D’OR (FR) | 7 | 9-10 | 137 | Corsellis & Seyfried | Paul Nicholls |
| 90) | MINELLA DADDY (IRE) | 8 | 9-10 | 137 | Roddy Owen & Paul Fullagar | Peter Bowen |
| 91) | PAIROFBROWNEYES (IRE) | 9 | 9-10 | 137 | Fibbage Syndicate | Willie Mullins IRE |
| 92) | RELENTLESS DREAMER (IRE) | 9 | 9-10 | 137 | Nigel Morris | Rebecca Curtis |
| 93) | KNOCK HOUSE (IRE) | 9 | 9-09 | 136 | Tim Leslie | Donald McCain |
| 94) | THE YOUNG MASTER | 9 | 9-08 | 135 | Mike Burbidge & The Old Masters | Neil Mulholland |
| 95) | ALFIE SPINNER (IRE) | 13 | 9-06 | 133 | Alan Beard & Brian Beard | Kerry Lee |
| 96) | HENRI PARRY MORGAN | 10 | 9-06 | 133 | Ednyfed & Elizabeth Morgan | Peter Bowen |
| 97) | PHIL’S MAGIC (IRE) | 8 | 9-06 | 133 | Lyreen Syndicate | Tony Martin IRE |
| 98) | BRAVISSIMO (FR) | 7 | 9-05 | 132 | Susannah Ricci | Willie Mullins IRE |
| 99) | DANCING SHADOW (IRE) | 9 | 9-05 | 132 | The Dancing Shadows | Victor Dartnall |
| 100) | ROGUE ANGEL (IRE) | 10 | 9-05 | 132 | Gigginstown House Stud | Mouse Morris IRE |
| 101) | THEBARROWMAN (IRE) | 8 | 9-04 | 131 | D Keys | Adrian Keatley IRE |
| 102) | OUT SAM | 9 | 9-03 | 130 | D Charlesworth | Gordon Elliott IRE |
| 103) | KRACKATOA KING | 10 | 9-00 | 127 | JC Harrison Lee & T Howard Partnership | Kerry Lee |
| 104) | GOODTOKNOW | 10 | 8-13 | 126 | Burling Lee MacEchern Nolan Potter | Kerry Lee |
| 105) | POORMANS HILL (IRE) | 7 | NQ | 120 | V Caldwell/Mrs K Caldwell | Gordon Elliott IRE |
